Are Free CogAT Sample Questions a Good Idea?

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - September 19th, 2012

This is a question which many parents struggle with. You want your child to do their best on this very important test. However, you don’t want to put excessive pressure on the situation, possibly setting the stage for debilitating test anxiety. Take your child’s individual personality and attitude toward tests into account before you give them free CogAT sample questions.

It’s also important to remember that these sample questions are designed only to help students become familiar with the testing format. If they are confused by it, that confusion can lead to inaccurately low scores. However, once they are comfortable with the format, there’s no need to prepare further. In fact, over-preparation can bring about its own anxiety. Simply reassure your child that while the CogAT is an important test, it’s nothing to become overly anxious about. With a relaxed attitude, your child is much more likely to perform well, and produce a score which accurately reflects his or her abilities.